Everyone is heading home for the holidays, DC is already a ghost town, I think I might be one of about 5 people left in my building! This is the first year I won’t be home for the holidays since I was 17, thankfully I’ll be spending the holidays with great friends, who live close by this year so I won’t be alone! I’ve still been having a hard time accepting the reality that part of being 24 and living on my own in a separate city and state than my family means not always being home for the holidays or even with your family.
The holidays are full of traditions and not being home can be tough. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t throw a little bit of a temper tantrum or three about not being home for the holidays this year, but I’ve come to terms with it and figured out ways to make the best of it. Starting with spending time with my de facto family down here!
Here are my 5 top tips for surviving the holidays away from home!
1. Find people to spend them with
I’m so lucky to have basically my second family close by who are taking me in this year, but I was so amazed at how many people invited me into their homes for the holidays. If you’re not home for the holidays take someone up on their invitation and see how they spend the holidays
2. Make new traditions
Things change and being adaptable makes that a lot easier to accept the change. Start with a clean slate and figure out a way to make new traditions.
3. Spread the holiday spirit
My family is spending Christmas day handing out presents to the Veterans. I love the idea of spending the holidays giving back to others and definitely want to make it a regular part of our Christmas traditions.
4. Stay connected
Thank goodness for technology, it’s not hard to stay in touch these days, Christmas morning in my house frequently includes Skype calls from Slovakia, Finland, Belgium, Ecuador and a multitude of other countries from all of the exchange students we’ve hosted. This year it will include a call from me too! It’s so nice that we can FaceTime and Skype and be super connected to everyone even when we aren’t home.
5. Remember what it’s all about
Just because you’re not home for the holidays doesn’t mean anything. The holidays aren’t all about where you are or the traditions you have. The holiday spirit is being surrounded by loved ones in your community, sipping cocoa by the tree, listening to or singing Christmas carols. Embrace it and it’ll be a lot easier to get through the holidays when you can’t be home with family, trust me!
How will you be spending the holidays this year? Home with family or making new traditions somewhere else?
Wherever you are, I hope you all have a lovely holiday!
